CLERMONT, Fla. – The No. 19 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater earned two decisive victories to open the 2017 season Friday against Roger Williams (R.I.) in a non-conference doubleheader at the NTC Softball Complex.
 
In her first career game, freshman Bella Matthias (Greenfield, Wis./Greenfield) tossed a no-hitter in the second game, a 4-0 UW-Whitewater victory, to headline the day. The team won its opener 9-1 in five innings in a game shortened due to run rule.
 
After putting the Hawks' first two runners on with a hit-by-pitch and a walk, Matthias retired the next 21 hitters she faced, tallying 12 strikeouts in the performance.
 
Matthias' performance is the program's 17th no-hitter in program history and the first since Katie Boyle's perfect game in 2012. It's the team's first seven-inning no-hitter since 2005 and the first seven-inning no-hitter by a freshman. (Two five-inning no-hitters have been recorded by Warhawk pitchers.)
 
UW-Whitewater (2-0 overall) tallied two runs in the first on back-to-back, two-out, run-scoring doubles by senior first baseman Amy Ricci (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) and freshman third baseman Meg Cohrs (Elburn, Ill./Kaneland).
 
The Warhawks added two more with two outs in the second on a first-and-third double steal by sophomore shortstop Emily Rux (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley) and freshman designated player Dani Biesiada (Lisle, Ill./Naperville North).
 
Junior left fielder Mallory Klotz (New Berlin, Wis./West) led the offense in the contest with two hits and one run scored.
 
In Game 1, UW-Whitewater jumped all over Roger Williams (4-7) early, plating one in the first on a double by Ricci, one in the second on a double by junior second baseman Michayla Swanson (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) and seven in the third thanks to six hits and a pair of errors by the Hawks.
 
Klotz, Ricci and sophomore centerfielder Caitlin Catino (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) each registered two hits and one run batted in. Cohrs and freshman catcher Nicole Neitzel (Verona, Wis./Verona Area) collected two RBI apiece.
 
Sophomore pitcher Julia Camardo (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) earned the win, surrendering only two hits and one unearned run while striking out six in four innings of work. Sophomore Molly Ethington (Rock Island, Ill./Alleman Catholic) tossed the fifth inning, picking up a pair of strikeouts.
 
The Warhawks continue action at the NTC Spring Games Saturday with games against Wesleyan (Conn.) at 8 a.m. Central Time and Amherst (Mass.) at 10:30 a.m. Central Time.